MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Mr REBELLO (McPherson) (16:15): I commend my friend and colleague the member for Gippsland for moving this motion in relation to the government's failure to govern for older Australians. I am livid. I am livid on behalf of the thousands of older Australians not only in my seat but around this country, because some of the changes that the government has proposed and that the government is making are going to affect them in such an unconscionable and a serious way.

And I say to those opposite, the ones who have contributed to this debate and those who are sitting in the chamber today or watching, you should really look at yourself and look at the content of what we're saying, because this is about your parents, it's about your grandparents and it's about people that you represent, or are supposed to represent, in this place, and what you're doing to older Australians is not something worthy of representatives.

I ran a campaign in my electorate after the changes for those aged 65-plus were announced that mean that older Australians are going to be paying more for their private health insurance. We received over 2,000 responses to those surveys, and most of the responses focused on the fact that these are older Australians who have worked for this country, who have done the right thing for so many years, and now they're finding themselves in a really difficult spot as a result of this government's characterisation of them.

It was said by the member for Gippsland—and I absolutely echo his comments—that we need to call this out for what it is. It is a Labor government that is punishing Australians who don't vote for them, and that is fundamentally disgusting and it's dishonest. I'm going to read out some of the comments—I know there are some opposite laughing, but this is a serious matter.

I'm going to read out some of the comments that ordinary Australians in the 65-plus category have sent to me and give them a voice in this place, because those on the opposite side of this parliament are prepared to go against them. I quote one person: 'That's a joke, Leon. We currently struggle to maintain existing low cover.

Any further change will force us to the public system.' Another person said: It's a money grab by Labor who've wasted money, now targeting aged people who've been prudent with their money throughout their tax paying years. Someone said: I'm 79 years old on pension and still working because of rental costs. I think this is excessively unfair.

Please consider excepting pensioners from these continual rises. I have tried to stay independent not to be a burden in the govt. But it's becoming really frightening when there is nowhere else to go if i can no longer afford rent and health care too.

Another person said: As a still working, self funded semi retiree (73years) old, I feel disillusioned and disgusted by our current govt, who seem to be hell bent on removing any incentive to be a self sufficient, hard working person. This is in complete contrast to what I was taught growing up! (Work hard, take responsibility for self and family!

We see aged care and NDIS funding being misappropriated in the Millions of $, while inept ministers seek to take funds from the disabled and elderly victims! There are many of these comments: When we joined a health insurance the government advised the rebate would be for life. We trusted that promise.

Another person said: To do this to older retirees is criminal. A lot of them are hanging on by the skin of their teeth financially, when they need their insurance the most and after paying premiums for years with minimal claims. Labour will pay the price if they mess with older Australians … Another person said: So this is over $1200 for the two of us.

If more people drop out of private health, not only will it affect the elderly, hospitals are struggling now, how will they cope with the extra patients. Waiting list will lengthen even more. The younger population will also be impacted with increased premiums due to the large number of contributors dropping out.

I have so many. I asked my staff to print out the first 50 that came through out of 2,000 people. These are some of those comments.

I say to those opposite: you can dismiss this topic in here—you can come into this place and act as though you're gods and you're not doing anything against older Australians—but older Australians see through your mess. They see through your lies. They see through your incompetence.

What we're— The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ): Member for McPherson, you'll need to withdraw the unparliamentary reference. Mr REBELLO: I withdraw. But, those opposite who are calling out things from across the chamber, you should sit and look at yourselves, because you're doing this to older Australians who have done nothing but the right thing.

They've worked hard their whole life, and you're coming into this place and ripping out their future from under them. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I'm just going to remind all members in the House, when making contributions to the debate, to direct your comments through me as the chair. That way we avoid the personal attacks.

I'm giving the call to the member for Deakin.